Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei said current negotiations with the United States focus on ending the regional war rather than the nuclear programme.
This distinction is critical as it signals a shift in diplomatic priorities, prioritizing immediate regional stability and the security of the Strait of Hormuz over the long-term resolution of nuclear tensions.
Baghaei said reports of an imminent ceasefire agreement between the two nations are unfounded. He said that the primary objective of the current discussions is to stop the conflict and secure the Hormuz region. According to Baghaei, the nuclear issue has been deferred to a later date.
The spokesman expressed frustration with previous diplomatic efforts, saying that the U.S. left the negotiating table and destroyed it two times in nine months [1]. He said the focus must remain on the regional conflict and the strategic importance of the Hormuz Strait.
Despite these statements, other reports have presented a different view of the negotiations. Some sources indicate that Iran and the U.S. reached an understanding on guiding principles to resolve their longstanding nuclear dispute. Other reports suggest Iran has signaled a readiness to discuss the nuclear issue after a proposal was deemed unacceptable.
In a separate development, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council stated that the country accepted a two-week ceasefire [2]. The council said that negotiations with the United States were scheduled to begin in Islamabad starting on a Friday in May 2024.
Baghaei said that the right to uranium enrichment remains non-negotiable under the Non-Proliferation Treaty. He said that the immediate priority is to prevent further escalation in the region before returning to the nuclear agenda.
“"Claims of an imminent US‑Iran cease‑fire agreement are unfounded; our talks are about ending the war, not the nuclear issue."”
The discrepancy between the Iranian Foreign Ministry's statements and other diplomatic reports suggests a fragmented negotiation strategy. By publicly decoupling the regional war from the nuclear dispute, Iran may be attempting to secure a ceasefire and maritime stability in the Strait of Hormuz without making immediate concessions on its enrichment capabilities. This approach allows Tehran to manage immediate security threats while maintaining leverage over its nuclear program for future diplomatic cycles.
